Calgary nanogel treats 6,000 Ukrainian troops and civilians

A wound and burn gel developed in Calgary has treated 6,000 soldiers and civilians in Ukraine since its deployment began in June. The product, NanoSALV Catalytic, is now being used on the front lines to address injuries sustained in combat.

Megan Leslie, co-founder and CEO of NanoTess, said the company started with a grant from National Defence in 2020. She called the current use in Ukraine a full circle moment for the technology. The team presented the results at the CAN Health Network Annual Conference in Toronto on Wednesday.

The treatment suspends a catalyst in a lightweight, non-flammable gel. It can be applied directly to injuries and transported by drone to the front line. This design allows people with limited medical training to administer the therapy effectively.

NanoSALV uses nanomaterials to speed up the body’s natural healing process. It lowers the energy needed for repair and fights infection-causing micro-organisms. The gel was evaluated on unhoused populations in encampments before its military application.

Hailie Uren, a clinical pharmacist with the Ukrainian Ministry of Health, said the gel saves time on the battlefield. She has worked in eastern Ukraine for four years and noted that the treatment works even when one nurse cares for up to 90 patients.

Uren added that the wounds can heal without constant nursing intervention. She described high demand among patients, noting that others in the room often show her their wounds after she visits a casualty the day after arrival.

Dr. Eric Fung, an Alberta surgeon who has worked in Ukraine, pointed to the recent wind-whipped wildfire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright. That incident killed four Canadian soldiers and burned dozens more. Fung said his colleagues in Edmonton are treating some of the larger burn injuries now. He explained that the gel helps during mass casualty events by getting people in and out of the hospital efficiently.